Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Hecyra, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 3.1

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Line

← Previous Next →

281 (PAMPHILUS. PARMENO. MYRRHINA.)

PAMPHILUS

Nemini ego plura acerba credo esse ex amore homini unquam oblata

Quam mihi. Heu me infelicem, hancine ego vitam parsi perdere?

Hacine causa ego cram tantopere cupidus redeundi domum,

Cui quanto fuerat praestabilius ubivis gentium agere aetatem

Quam huc redire, atque haec ita esse miserum me resciscere.
285

Nam nos omnes, quibus est alicunde aliquis obiectus labos,

Omne quod est interea tempus prius quam id rescitum est lucro est.

PARMENO

At sic citius qui te expedias his aerumnis reperies.

Si non redisses, hae irae factae essent multo ampliores;

Sed nunc adventum tuum ambas, Pamphile, scio reverituras.
290

Rem cognosces; iram expedies; rursum in gratiam restitues.

Levia sunt haec quae tu pergravia esse in animum induxti tuum.

PAMPHILUS

Quid consolare me? an quisquam usquam gentium est aeque miser?

Prius quam hanc uxorem duxi habebam alibi animum amori deditum:

Iam in hac re, ut taceam, cuivis facile scitu est quam fuerim miser:
295

Tamen nunquam ausus sum recusare eam quam mihi obtrudit pater.

Vix me illinc abstraxi, atque impeditum in ea expedivi animum meum,

Vixque huc contuleram; hem, nova res orta est porro ab hac quae me abstrahat.

Tum matrem ex ea re me aut uxorem in culpa inventurum arbitror;

Quod ita quum esse invenero, quid restat nisi porro ut fiam miser?
300

Nam matris ferre iniurias me, Parmeno, pietas iubet.

Tum uxori obnoxius sum; ita olim suo me ingenio pertulit;

Tot meas iniurias quae nunquam in ullo patefecit loco.

Sed magnum nescio quid necesse est evenisse, Parmeno,

Unde ira inter eas intercessit quae tam permansit diu.
305

PARMENO

Haud quidem hercle parvum, si vis vero veram rationem exsequi.

Non maximas quae maximae sunt interdum irae iniurias

Faciunt; nam saepe est quibus in rebus alius ne iratus quidem est,

Quum de eadem causa est iracundus factus inimicissimus.

Pueri inter sese quam pro levibus noxiis iras gerunt!
310

Quapropter? quia enim qui eos gubernat animus infirmum gerunt.

Itidem illae mulieres sunt ferme ut pueri levi sententia.

Fortasse unum aliquod verbum inter eas iram hanc concivisse.

PAMPHILUS

Abi, Parmeno, intro ac me venisse nuntia.

PARMENO

Hem, quid hoc est?

PAMPHILUS

Tace.

Trepidari sentio et cursari rursum prorsum.
315

PARMENO

Agedum ad fores

Accede propius. Hem, sensistin?

PAMPHILUS

Noli fabularier.

Pro Iupiter! clamorem audivi.

PARMENO

Tute loqueris, me vetas.

MYRRHINA

Tace obsecro mea gnata.

PAMPHILUS

Matris vox visa est Philumenae.

Nullus sum.

PARMENO

Quidum?

PAMPHILUS

Perii!

PARMENO

Quamobrem?

PAMPHILUS

Nescio quod magnum malum

Profecto, Parmeno, me celas.
320

PARMENO

Uxorem Philumenam

Pavitare nescio quid dixerunt: id si forte est nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Interii. Cur mihi id non dixti?

PARMENO

Quia non poteram una omnia.

PAMPHILUS

Quid morbi est?

PARMENO

Nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Quid? nemon medicum adduxit?

PARMENO

Nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Cesso hinc ire intro, ut hoc quam primum quicquid est certum sciam?

Quonam modo, Philumena mea, nunc te offendam affectam?
325

Nam si periclum ullum in te inest, perisse me una haud dubium est.

PARMENO

Non usus facto est mihi nunc hunc intro sequi:

Nam invisos omnes nos esse illis sentio.

Heri nemo voluit Sostratam intro admittere.

Si forte morbus amplior factus siet,
330

Quod sane nolim, maxime heri causa mei,

Servum ilico introisse dicent Sostratae;

Aliquid tulisse comminiscentur mali

Capiti atque aetati illorum, morbus qui auctus siet.

Hera in crimen veniet, ego vero in magnum malum.
335

Hecyra. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.

Current edition Perseus

Hecyra (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.)

Translations (1)

Hecyra; The Mother-in-Law Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 3.1 focus

281 (Enter PAMPHILUS and PARMENO.)

PAMPHILUS

No individual, I do believe, ever met with more crosses in love than I. Alas! unhappy me! that I have thus been sparing of life! Was it for this I was so very impatient to return home? O, how much more preferable had it been for me to pass my life any where in the world

than to return here and be sensible that I am thus wretched! For all of us know who have met with trouble from any cause, that all the time that passes before we come to the knowledge of it, is so much gain.
285

PARMENO

Still, as it is, you’ll the sooner know how to extricate yourself from these misfortunes. If you had not returned, this breach might have become much wider;

but now, Pamphilus, I am sure that both will be awed by your presence. You will learn the facts, remove their enmity, restore them to good feeling once again. These are but trifles which you have persuaded yourself are so grievous.
290

PAMPHILUS

Why comfort me? Is there a person in all the world so wretched as I? Before I took her to wife, I had my heart engaged by other affections.

Now, though on this subject I should be silent, it is easy for any one to know how much I have suffered; yet I never dared refuse her whom my father forced upon me. With difficulty did I withdraw myself from another, and disengage my affections so firmly rooted there! and hardly had I fixed them in another quarter, when, lo! a new misfortune has arisen, which may tear me from her too. Then besides, I suppose that in this matter I shall find either my mother or my wife in fault;
295

and when I find such to be the fact, what remains but to become still more wretched? For duty, Parmeno, bids me bear with the feelings of a mother; then, to my wife I am bound by obligations; with so much temper did she formerly bear my usage, and on no occasion disclose the many wrongs inflicted on her by me. But, Parmeno, something of consequence, I know not what it is, must have happened
300

for this misunderstanding to have arisen between them, that has lasted so long.
305

PARMENO

Or else something frivolous, i’ faith, if you would only give words their proper value; those which are sometimes the greatest enmities, do not argue the greatest injuries; for it often happens that in certain circumstances, in which another would not even be out of temper, for the very same reason a passionate man becomes your greatest enemy.

What enmities do children entertain among themselves for trifling injuries! For what reason? Why, because they have a weak understanding to direct them. Just so are these women, almost like children with their fickle feelings; perhaps a single word has occasioned this enmity between them, master.
310

PAMPHILUS

Go, Parmeno, into the house, and carry word¹ that I have arrived. (A noise is heard in the house of PHIDIPPUS.)

PARMENO

(starting.)

Ha! What means this?

PAMPHILUS

Be silent.

I perceive a bustling about, and a running to and fro.
315

PARMENO

(going to the door.)

Come then, I’ll approach nearer to the door. (He listens.) Ha! did you hear?

PAMPHILUS

Don’t be prating. (He listens.) O Jupiter, I heard a shriek!

PARMENO

You yourself are talking, while you forbid me.

MYRRHINA

(within the house.)

Prithee, my child, do be silent.

PAMPHILUS

That seems to be the voice of Philumena’s mother. I’m undone

PARMENO

Why so?

PAMPHILUS

Utterly ruined!

PARMENO

For what reason?

PAMPHILUS

Parmeno, you are concealing from me some great misfortune to me unknown.

PARMENO

They said that your wife, Philumena, was in alarm about² something, I know not what; whether that may be it, perchance, I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

I am undone! Why didn’t you tell me of this?

PARMENO

Because I couldn’t tell every thing at once.

PAMPHILUS

What is the malady?

PARMENO

I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

What! has no one brought a physician to see her?

PARMENO

I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

Why delay going in-doors, that I may know as soon as possible for certain what it is?

In what condition, Philumena, am I now to find you? But if you are in any peril, beyond a doubt I will perish with you. (Goes into the house of PHIDIPPUS.)
325

PARMENO

(to himself.)

There is no need for me to follow him into the house at present, for I see that we are all disagreeable to them. Yesterday, no one would give Sostrata admittance.

If, perchance, the malady should become worse, which really I could far from wish, for my master’s sake especially, they would at once say that Sostrata’s servant had been in there; they would invent a story that I had brought some mischief against their lives and persons, in consequence of which the malady had been increased.
330

My mistress would be blamed, and I should incur heavy punishment.³
335

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PAMPHILUS Abi, Parmeno, intro ac me venisse nuntia.

PARMENO Hem, quid hoc est?

PAMPHILUS Tace. Trepidari sentio et cursari rursum prorsum. 315

PARMENO Agedum ad fores Accede propius. Hem, sensistin?

PAMPHILUS Noli fabularier. Pro Iupiter! clamorem audivi.

PARMENO Tute loqueris, me vetas.

MYRRHINA Tace obsecro mea gnata.

PAMPHILUS Matris vox visa est Philumenae. Nullus sum.

PARMENO Quidum?

PAMPHILUS Perii!

PARMENO Quamobrem?

PAMPHILUS Nescio quod magnum malum Profecto, Parmeno, me celas. 320

PARMENO Uxorem Philumenam Pavitare nescio quid dixerunt: id si forte est nescio.

PAMPHILUS Interii. Cur mihi id non dixti?

PARMENO Quia non poteram una omnia.

PAMPHILUS Quid morbi est?

PARMENO Nescio.

PAMPHILUS Quid? nemon medicum adduxit?

PARMENO Nescio.

PAMPHILUS Cesso hinc ire intro, ut hoc quam primum quicquid est certum sciam? Quonam modo, Philumena mea, nunc te offendam affectam? 325 Nam si periclum ullum in te inest, perisse me una haud dubium est.

Current edition Perseus

PAMPHILUS Go, Parmeno, into the house, and carry word 1 that I have arrived. (A noise is heard in the house of PHIDIPPUS.)

PARMENO (starting.) Ha! What means this?

PAMPHILUS Be silent. I perceive a bustling about, and a running to and fro. 315

PARMENO (going to the door.) Come then, I’ll approach nearer to the door. (He listens.) Ha! did you hear?

PAMPHILUS Don’t be prating. (He listens.) O Jupiter, I heard a shriek!

PARMENO You yourself are talking, while you forbid me.

MYRRHINA (within the house.) Prithee, my child, do be silent.

PAMPHILUS That seems to be the voice of Philumena’s mother. I’m undone

PARMENO Why so?

PAMPHILUS Utterly ruined!

PARMENO For what reason?

PAMPHILUS Parmeno, you are concealing from me some great misfortune to me unknown.

PARMENO They said that your wife, Philumena, was in alarm about 2 something, I know not what; whether that may be it, perchance, I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS I am undone! Why didn’t you tell me of this?

PARMENO Because I couldn’t tell every thing at once.

PAMPHILUS What is the malady?

PARMENO I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS What! has no one brought a physician to see her?

PARMENO I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS Why delay going in-doors, that I may know as soon as possible for certain what it is? In what condition, Philumena, am I now to find you? But if you are in any peril, beyond a doubt I will perish with you. (Goes into the house of PHIDIPPUS.) 325

Stable identifiers

PAMPHILUS

Abi, Parmeno, intro ac me venisse nuntia.

PARMENO

Hem, quid hoc est?

PAMPHILUS

Tace.

Trepidari sentio et cursari rursum prorsum.
315

PARMENO

Agedum ad fores

Accede propius. Hem, sensistin?

PAMPHILUS

Noli fabularier.

Pro Iupiter! clamorem audivi.

PARMENO

Tute loqueris, me vetas.

MYRRHINA

Tace obsecro mea gnata.

PAMPHILUS

Matris vox visa est Philumenae.

Nullus sum.

PARMENO

Quidum?

PAMPHILUS

Perii!

PARMENO

Quamobrem?

PAMPHILUS

Nescio quod magnum malum

Profecto, Parmeno, me celas.
320

PARMENO

Uxorem Philumenam

Pavitare nescio quid dixerunt: id si forte est nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Interii. Cur mihi id non dixti?

PARMENO

Quia non poteram una omnia.

PAMPHILUS

Quid morbi est?

PARMENO

Nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Quid? nemon medicum adduxit?

PARMENO

Nescio.

PAMPHILUS

Cesso hinc ire intro, ut hoc quam primum quicquid est certum sciam?

Quonam modo, Philumena mea, nunc te offendam affectam?
325

Nam si periclum ullum in te inest, perisse me una haud dubium est.

PAMPHILUS

Go, Parmeno, into the house, and carry word¹ that I have arrived. (A noise is heard in the house of PHIDIPPUS.)

PARMENO

(starting.)

Ha! What means this?

PAMPHILUS

Be silent.

I perceive a bustling about, and a running to and fro.
315

PARMENO

(going to the door.)

Come then, I’ll approach nearer to the door. (He listens.) Ha! did you hear?

PAMPHILUS

Don’t be prating. (He listens.) O Jupiter, I heard a shriek!

PARMENO

You yourself are talking, while you forbid me.

MYRRHINA

(within the house.)

Prithee, my child, do be silent.

PAMPHILUS

That seems to be the voice of Philumena’s mother. I’m undone

PARMENO

Why so?

PAMPHILUS

Utterly ruined!

PARMENO

For what reason?

PAMPHILUS

Parmeno, you are concealing from me some great misfortune to me unknown.

PARMENO

They said that your wife, Philumena, was in alarm about² something, I know not what; whether that may be it, perchance, I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

I am undone! Why didn’t you tell me of this?

PARMENO

Because I couldn’t tell every thing at once.

PAMPHILUS

What is the malady?

PARMENO

I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

What! has no one brought a physician to see her?

PARMENO

I don’t know.

PAMPHILUS

Why delay going in-doors, that I may know as soon as possible for certain what it is?

In what condition, Philumena, am I now to find you? But if you are in any peril, beyond a doubt I will perish with you. (Goes into the house of PHIDIPPUS.)
325